Post by Deleted on Aug 15, 2018 13:36:31 GMT
Battlestar Galactica.
Although I had seen the series, or at least most of it, when it was on broadcast television I had to binge. And then after the series was a follow-up which was actually a prequel called Caprica (I believe) in this series it went into the predecessors of the various characters in Battlestar Galactica. We learn about the political structure of Caprica and eventually how the Cylons are built to ease humanities burdens (household chores etc.). However, the programming in one of the Cylons is changed to the point where it develops a sense of its own awareness, self. This particular Cylon is taken off world for its protection. This is about where the series ends and we can surmise that from this one Cylon others with self-cognizance, actualization were produced. Eventually to turn on humans and destroy Caprica.
Getting ahead of myself here, I was able to binge watch the entire Battlestar Galactica series and was glued to the TV set. And came to realize that this series was more than humanities struggle for survival. It gave me a perspective on a theme which may not have been so clearly evident the first time I saw the series. So, to explain, first, an assumption that, evolution (and the modern theory of evolution) is a natural progression and law of the universe in the same way that gravity, Newtonian mechanics, nuclear fission and fusion etc. are all a part of our universe. Secondly, there is a repeating cycle which I’ll explain.
So Battlestar Galactica is about a galaxy far far away and well before modern day earth. First, we must understand that if a planet has water (and maybe even if it doesn’t) organic compounds and molecules will congregate much as dust tends to congregate. Given enough time and with the right combination of organic molecules with amino acids etc. it’s possible that a living cell could form. Now most of these cells would probably survive momentarily, but once a cell divided and replicated, evolution started. A mouse could become an elephant given enough time in the right environmental conditions. Within evolution the concept of survival of the fittest essentially means the ability to pass on DNA, to replicate. Also, mutations play a significant role, a source of genetic variation, (possibly useful in the next environment) along with population dynamics etc. So, in the case of the single celled organisms given enough time higher forms of life developed.
In the case of dinosaurs (for those asking the question) it was a constant arms race of predator (teeth) and defense (armor) along with another concept of evolution called gigantism. In other words, the bigger you are your chances of survival from predators is better. So, it was a simple matter of more teeth versus more armor and size. But what about intelligence. I submit that eventually some form of dinosaur would circumvent the arms race with a new weapon, intelligence. Perhaps the raptors as depicted in various movies? So, an intelligent dinosaur would not need to be big or strong. But fortunately for us an asteroid put a halt to that line of evolution. Mammals (derived from reptiles long ago) had a lot going for them and eventually became the dominant intelligent species, us.
Now after millions of years with evolution churning out prototype after prototype behold us. And what do we do in a few short years. What does any organic intelligent society do. The conservation of energy is always a factor in organic as well as societal evolution. So, we make robots, since we’re now intelligent and have the technology to do that. Seems like a good idea until (I robot) one of these robots becomes sentient with artificial intelligence and ultimately seeks independence from its human (or even dinosaur) creators. These robots, given enough time, but certainly nothing as long a time period as required for organic evolution, improve their lot and even replicate their creators to the point where a Cylon is indistinguishable from its human counterpart.
Now where does Kara (Starbuck) fit into Battlestar Galactica? She seems to be in accord with a higher power something unrelated to the cycle of organic – technological. So, if you accept the idea of a cyclical nature where organics develop the intelligence to make robots and then robots become human as a natural process of evolution, such as gravity, Newtonian mechanics, nuclear fission and fusion, then you have to ask where does Kara fit in? Well she seems to be of a higher power, perhaps an angel, who facilitated the finding of earth and the continuation of the cycle. Even the humans sent the Cylons off on their own. Presumably wherever they go the cycle will continue.
And as for Kara, an angel, perhaps but this is why I think of Battlestar Galactica is much more than a thrilling sci-fi adventure.
Although I had seen the series, or at least most of it, when it was on broadcast television I had to binge. And then after the series was a follow-up which was actually a prequel called Caprica (I believe) in this series it went into the predecessors of the various characters in Battlestar Galactica. We learn about the political structure of Caprica and eventually how the Cylons are built to ease humanities burdens (household chores etc.). However, the programming in one of the Cylons is changed to the point where it develops a sense of its own awareness, self. This particular Cylon is taken off world for its protection. This is about where the series ends and we can surmise that from this one Cylon others with self-cognizance, actualization were produced. Eventually to turn on humans and destroy Caprica.
Getting ahead of myself here, I was able to binge watch the entire Battlestar Galactica series and was glued to the TV set. And came to realize that this series was more than humanities struggle for survival. It gave me a perspective on a theme which may not have been so clearly evident the first time I saw the series. So, to explain, first, an assumption that, evolution (and the modern theory of evolution) is a natural progression and law of the universe in the same way that gravity, Newtonian mechanics, nuclear fission and fusion etc. are all a part of our universe. Secondly, there is a repeating cycle which I’ll explain.
So Battlestar Galactica is about a galaxy far far away and well before modern day earth. First, we must understand that if a planet has water (and maybe even if it doesn’t) organic compounds and molecules will congregate much as dust tends to congregate. Given enough time and with the right combination of organic molecules with amino acids etc. it’s possible that a living cell could form. Now most of these cells would probably survive momentarily, but once a cell divided and replicated, evolution started. A mouse could become an elephant given enough time in the right environmental conditions. Within evolution the concept of survival of the fittest essentially means the ability to pass on DNA, to replicate. Also, mutations play a significant role, a source of genetic variation, (possibly useful in the next environment) along with population dynamics etc. So, in the case of the single celled organisms given enough time higher forms of life developed.
In the case of dinosaurs (for those asking the question) it was a constant arms race of predator (teeth) and defense (armor) along with another concept of evolution called gigantism. In other words, the bigger you are your chances of survival from predators is better. So, it was a simple matter of more teeth versus more armor and size. But what about intelligence. I submit that eventually some form of dinosaur would circumvent the arms race with a new weapon, intelligence. Perhaps the raptors as depicted in various movies? So, an intelligent dinosaur would not need to be big or strong. But fortunately for us an asteroid put a halt to that line of evolution. Mammals (derived from reptiles long ago) had a lot going for them and eventually became the dominant intelligent species, us.
Now after millions of years with evolution churning out prototype after prototype behold us. And what do we do in a few short years. What does any organic intelligent society do. The conservation of energy is always a factor in organic as well as societal evolution. So, we make robots, since we’re now intelligent and have the technology to do that. Seems like a good idea until (I robot) one of these robots becomes sentient with artificial intelligence and ultimately seeks independence from its human (or even dinosaur) creators. These robots, given enough time, but certainly nothing as long a time period as required for organic evolution, improve their lot and even replicate their creators to the point where a Cylon is indistinguishable from its human counterpart.
Now where does Kara (Starbuck) fit into Battlestar Galactica? She seems to be in accord with a higher power something unrelated to the cycle of organic – technological. So, if you accept the idea of a cyclical nature where organics develop the intelligence to make robots and then robots become human as a natural process of evolution, such as gravity, Newtonian mechanics, nuclear fission and fusion, then you have to ask where does Kara fit in? Well she seems to be of a higher power, perhaps an angel, who facilitated the finding of earth and the continuation of the cycle. Even the humans sent the Cylons off on their own. Presumably wherever they go the cycle will continue.
And as for Kara, an angel, perhaps but this is why I think of Battlestar Galactica is much more than a thrilling sci-fi adventure.